Device for locking and operating valves.



Nolvzsoa 'PATENATEE APE, 211903.

E. T. WEITELEV. DEVICE EOE LUGKING AND OPERATING VALVES.

APPLICATIONy FILED 211B. 12, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

IIREDERICK T. WHITELEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR LOCKING `AND OPERATING VALVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 726,206, dated April 21, 1903. Application filed February 12, 1903'. 'Serial 143,108. (No model.)

To @ZZ wwwt it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK T. WHITE- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Penu'sylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Locking and Operating Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in gas-fixtures and means for operating the same, consisting more particularly of improved mechanism' for locking a gas-valve in definite positions, in combination with means for releasingsaid locking device when it is desired to operate the valve.

The objectof the invention is to provide a device which shall automatically lock the plug or valve of a gas-fixture in one or more predetermined positions in order to prevent its accidental displacement or movement beyond these positions and to provide a device for conveniently releasing said locking means when it is desired to turnsaid plug or valve.A

This object I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a gas-fixture equipped with my improved valve-locking structure and illustrating the device for operating this locking apparatus when it is desired to tu ru the gas-valve. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the preferred form of plug or valve used in connection with my invention, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one form of locking-lever.

In the above drawings, A represents a gasfixture of the well-known form, having a burner et and a portion a', designed for attachment to a supply-pipe, in addition to which there is the customary valve or plug (shown at a2) for controlling the flow of gas to said burner. In any desired portion of this valve, preferably in its cylindrical or conical surface, I form any desired number of recesses or depressions a3, in-the case illustrated four, and .place them ninety degrees apart.

It will be noted that two of the recesses are' in a line parallel to the passage a4 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) for the passage of gas through the plug, the others being at right angles to said line.

Pivoted to a portion of the gas-xture in line with and directly under the burner a is a lever B, having a hooked or bent end b and an enlarged portion b, by which it may be engaged when operated, the end b being in the present instance at right angles to the length :of the lever and so placed as to engage the depressions in the pl ug a3. A spring b2, havingvone end in engagement with the lever and the other bearing upon the gas-fixtu re, tends to V,turn the lever B on its pivot, so as to cause .the portion b to press against the plug or valve a2, and hence to enter any one of the depressions aswhen these are in the proper position relativelythereto.

C represents a gas-lighting device of any of the well-known forms, having a handle c, a body portion c', and a split or forked end c2, designed to engage the operating-handle a5 ofthe plug or valve ofthe gas-fixture. This lighter is also provided with a tubular 'portion c2, in which is carried a taper or other igniting device or material.

In addition to the above I provide the gaslighter with two guide or supporting pieces c3, attached in the present instance to its .bodyportion by rivets c4 and designed to lmovably support an operating-rod c5, which fhas two offset ends c(7l and c7 shown.

this rod c5 is a spring es, normally tending to Upon revolve the rod Aor to prevent its revolution, there .being also a stop formed by a pin o9, passing through said rod and bearing upon the body portion c of the lighter.

With the various portions of the device in the positions shown in the drawings the gasvalve will be full open and will be locked in Vsuch position, so as to be prevented from rotation by means of the lever B, whose hook ib is in engagement with one of the recesses as of said valve. Voff the fiow of gas, the hook of said lever In order, therefore, to turn must be raised out of engagement with said recess, and this is accomplished by bringing pressure to bear against the oset-'portion 'c6 kof the Voperating-rod c5, such action resulting -in a partial revolution of said rod. Such IOO 4by preventing further motion of the valve and making impossible its accidental turning beyond the od position. In order that said valve may be moved farther, the rod o5 must again be brought into action to turn the lever B on its pivot and raise the hook b from the recess in the valve. It willbe seen that the spring c5 normally retains the odset ends of the lever c3 in a position to one side ot the plane of the fork or slot at the upper end of the lighter C, such position being determined by the stop c striking the body portion c.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a gas-iixturehaving a valve and means for locking the same in a definite position, of a device for operating said valve provided with means for engaging and operating the locking means, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a gas-fixture having a valve and a locking device for retaining said valve in a definite position, ot a structure for engaging the valve, and a longitudinally-rotatable device carried thereby and placed to be brought into engagement with the locking device, for operating the same prior to the operationot the valve, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a gas-fixture having a valve, a lever pivoted to said gas-fixture having means for engaging and holding said valve in a definite position, a bar having means for engaging the Valve, and a rod carried by the bar and placed to engage the lever for operating the same prior to the operation of the valve, substantiallyas described.

1. The combination of a gas-fixture, a valve therein having in it a depression, alever pivoted to the gasfixture and having means whereby it is caused to engage said depression in said valve, a device having means for turning the lever on its pivot and thereby causing it to disengage the valve, and means for turning the valve after such disengagement has taken place, substantially as described.

5. The combination of agas-xture having a valve and a lever for locking the same in a definite position, a bar having means for en gaging the valve to turn the same, guides on said bar and an operating-rod revolubly carried in said guides, said bar being placed to engage the lever and thereby cause it to release said valve, substantially as described. 6. The combination of a gas-fixture having a valve and a lever for locking said valve in a definite position, with a bar having a handle and a slotted end for engagement with the valve, with an operating-rod revolubly carried by said bar and provided with olset ends, one of said ends being adjacent to the handle and the other of a form and position such that it will engage the lever and causo the same to release the valve when the offset end adjacent to the handle ot' the bar is properly moved, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a gas-fixture having a valve, of a lever constructed to engage said valve and retain it in a definite position and a spring tending to force one end of the lever into engagement with the valve, with a bar having a handle at one end and a device at the other for engaging the valve, an operating-rod for the lever carried by the bar so as to be free to revolve on a longitudinal axis, a spring on said rod, and a stop whereby motion of the rod is limited, said rod being constructed to engage the lever on the gas-tixture and thereby cause it to disengage the Valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specitication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED. T. WHITELEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

